Migraines & headaches decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran did not have current residuals of a head injury sustained in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected post-concussive syndrome, right rotator cuff tendinitis, status post fracture of the right ankle, cervical strain, and lumbar strain have been evaluated based on their respective symptoms and limitations. The appeals for increased evaluations are granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims are granted for left foot injury, chronic respiratory condition (undiagnosed illness), joint pain, swelling, and weakness of the lower extremities, bilateral, gastrointestinal disorder (irritable bowel syndrome), migraine and tension headaches, fatigue, and back disability. The conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the May 1983 rating decision, which prevented service connection for dysarthria, ataxia involving the left arm, side, and leg, and a psychiatric disability with headaches. The effective date of these awards is January 17, 1983.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including muscle and joint pain, insomnia, positive PPD, sinusitis, tinea versicolor, and poor vision. The evidence did not support a finding of service origin or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board found that the veteran's migraines are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. 1151 for headaches, blurred vision, a liver disorder, and empty sella syndrome, claimed as results of Prolixin injections administered by VA, was denied due to lack of evidence showing that the conditions were caused by VA treatment.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed disabilities, including blurred vision, dizziness, fainting spells, sinus condition, migraine headaches, and disc degeneration, as they are not shown to be related to his active duty or radium treatment in service.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia as secondary to service-connected Meniere's syndrome, but denied service connection for headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current manifestations of his service-connected neurotic skeletal disorder are very frequent migraine headaches, which are completely prostrating in nature and recurrent to a degree that they are productive of severe economic inadaptability. Therefore, an increased rating to 50 percent for the veteran's neurotic skeletal disorder is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a headache disability, finding that the evidence received since the December 1994 rating decision was not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, low back disorder, and head injury with headaches have been denied due to lack of verifiable in-service stressors and failure to respond to requests for additional information.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disability, claimed as gastritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. However, a headache disorder was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The Board granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for low back pain with small disc protrusion at L5-S1 and a noncompensable disability evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran's headaches, which are secondary to his service-connected fractured mandible, meet the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation. This is based on very frequent, completely prostrating and prolonged attacks of migraines.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been granted, with the highest possible evaluation (50%) assigned for chronic head injury syndrome and depression. Other conditions remain at their current ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder (including ulcer), skin disorder, and headaches claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence showing their onset or etiology during or within one year after service.

The VA denied the claim that the veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death by intracerebral hemorrhage.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the veteran's migraine headaches, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for such a rating due to very frequent and prolonged attacks with severe economic inadaptibility.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory, neurological, and psychiatric disabilities, are denied as there is no direct evidence of these conditions in service or a link to Agent Orange exposure.